True vibrato



United States Patent 3,142,221 TRUE VIBRATO Solon 0. Boyd, Box 2372, ElCajon, Calif. Filed Feb. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 174,190 9 Claims. (Cl.84-313) This invention relates to a vibrato for musical instruments.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device forcontrolling the tone of string instruments and to provide an attachmentthat can be quickly mounted upon and removed from the strings of theinstrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tone control devicewhich does not require the modification of the instrument or itsmutilation, or the use of any fastening means on the sounding board orsounding box, or any other part of the instrument, and which permits theretaining of the original tailpiece.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tone controldevice of the type termed as vibrato which is compact, inexpensive andsimple so that the same can be placed in use by simple coaction with thestrings of the instrument and which can be easily operated at will ofthe musician while his hands and fingers are in the substantially normalplaying position.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction thereof without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as set forth in the following specification, and asdefined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention tothe exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to theexact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental perspective view of a string musical instrumentshowing a vibrato made in accordance with the present invention mountedon the strings of the instrument.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vibrato in position on anenlarged scale with respect to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a partly sectionalview of the vibrato looking toward the tailpiece of the instrument frombelow the bridge.

The tone control device denoted in its entirety by the numeral 1 isshown mounted on a guitar 2. It is to be understood that my tone controldevice may be used on other types of string musical instruments, such asbanjos, ukulele, mandolines and the like. The guitar 2 has a soundingbox 3. The uppermost surface of the sounding box 3 which is theequivalent of a sounding board 4 supports a usual bridge 6 under strings7. The tail ends of the strings 7 are secured in the usual manner to aso called tailpiece 8.

The tailpiece 8 includes an anchor or clamp 9 from which extend wires 11secured to a crossbar 12. The wires 11 are secured in a transversesleeve 13 formed on the anchor or clamp 9.

My tone control device includes a shaft 14 provided with a plurality ofpassages 16. Each passage 16 is generally diametrical to the shaft 14and has a countersunk enlarged recess 17 formed at each end thereof. Thestrings 7, preferably in pairs, are extended through the respectivepassages 16 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Each string 7 is extendedover the top of the shaft 14 and then it is turned back upon itself andthrough the 3,142,221 Patented July 28., 1964 passage 16 and then out ofsaid passage 16 from the same side of the shaft 14 nearer the bridge 6and then under the shaft 14 to the cross-bar 12 in which latter thestring 7 is anchored in the usual manner not shown.

The shaft is supported in an initial position shown in FIG. 2, whereinthe passages 16 are generally parallel with the sounding board 4 andgenerally at right angles to the bridge 6, by a spring bracket 18. Thespring bracket 18 consists of a loop 19 located so that it rests uponthe wires 11 of the tailpiece 8 as shown in FIG. 1. A clamp bar 21extends under the wires 11 and has upwardly extended hooks 22 formed ateach end thereof, fitting over the adjacent portions of the spring loop19, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to hold the spring loop 19 in fixedposition relatively to the tailpiece 8.

On each end of the loop 19 the wire is formed into a suitable springcoil 23. From each spring coil 23 extends an end 24 through a hole 26 inthe shaft 14, which hole 26 is generally perpendicular and at rightangles to the plane in which the string passages 16 lie. A nut 27 with aset screw 28 threaded therein is positioned beneath each end of theshaft near each spring leg 24.

The set screw 28 in the nut 27 is adjusted to bear tightly against theshaft 14 so that as the shaft 14 is rocked by the handle 41, it does notrise or lower relatively to the sounding board 4, but the adjustment issuch that it permits the limited rocking of the shaft in oppositedirections for the required vibrato.

The spring coils 23 are so set as to hold the shaft 14 in the initialposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

One end of the shaft 14 is provided with threads 31. A locknut 32 isthreaded on the threads 31 and an internally threaded sleeve 33 isthreaded on said threaded portion 31 against the nut 32. The sleeve 33has transverse threaded holes 34 therethrough into which is secured abolt 36 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Spaced from the head of the bolt36 is a handle locknut 37 and an upwardly dished lock washer 38. Thewasher 38 is so dished as to nestle therein the wire legs 39 of a handle41 and thereby permit the handle locknut 37 to tightly clamp the handlein place. The location of the handle 41 with respect to the strings 7can be adjusted and determined by loosening the locknut 32 and threadingthe sleeve 34 to the adjusted position and then retightening the locknut32 to hold the handle 41 in the adjusted position.

The aforementioned simple structure can be easily assembled on existingmusical instruments without requiring replacement or reconstruction ofany part of the musical instrument. Namely, the strings 7 are drawnthrough the passages 16 of the shaft 14 in the manner heretoforedescribed. Then the loop 19 is placed in position over the wires 11 ofthe tailpiece 8 and is clamped in that position by the hooks 22 of theclamp bar 21 which is inserted under the wires 11. The legs 24 of thespring coils 23 are inserted in the perpendicular holes 26 of the shaft14 and thereby locate the shaft 14 in the initial position, asheretofore described. Finally the initial handle position is adjusted bythe sleeve 33 and locknut 32. In order to operate the tone controldevice, it is only necessary for the player to lift the handle 41 whenvibrato is desired, whereby the shaft 14 will be rocked in a clockwisedirection viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, exerting corresponding pull on thestrings 7 for the effect desired. When the handle 41 is released, theaction of the spring coils 23 will cause the shaft 14 to rock back toits initial position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the handle is thuspulled up away from the instrument the tone played on the string 7 ofthe instrument is raised in pitch. In order to cause the notes beingplayed to lower in pitch, the player pushes the handle down toward theinstrument and the shaft 14 rolls slightly in Q3 contra-clockwisedirection viewing FIGS. 1 and 2 releasing the tension of the strings asneeded for the lower pitch. These motions repeated about three or sixtimes a second create a true vibrato. The rocking motion required forthe vibrato is very slight and can be accomplished positively and withease.

When the handle 41 is not in use, it can be pushed into an out of theway position and as the handle is turned outwardly into the dotted lineposition, shown in FIG. 1, it turns the bolt 36. A set screw 42 in theend of the sleeve 33 can be adjusted to regulate the tightness of thebolt 36 in its position for holding the handle 41 against accidentalswinging to an out of the Way position.

I claim:

1. In tone control device for a string instrument having a tailpieceextended over the face of the instrument and having strings secured tosaid tailpiece;

(a) a rockable member extended transversely of said strings and spacedfrom said tailpiece (b) said rockable member having passagestherethrough (c) said strings being drawn through said passagesrespectively and then connected to said tailpiece so as to be tightenedand loosened by the rocking of said rockable member in respectiveopposite directions (d) a resiliently yieldable element attached to saidtailpiece (e) spring means on said yieldable element to connect it tosaid rockable member so as to bias it into an initial position (1) andhandle means on said rockable member overlying said face of saidinstrument, whereby said rockable member can be rocked in oppositedirections respectively for tightening or loosening said strings fortone control.

2. The tone control device defined in claim 1 and (g) each end of eachpassage having a smoothly flared countersunk portion to guide the stringtherethrough.

3. In tone control device for a string instrument having a tailpieceextended over the face of the instrument and having strings secured tosaid tailpiece;

(a) a rockable member extended transversely of said strings and spacedfrom said tailpiece (b) said rockable member having passagestherethrough (c) said strings being drawn through said passagesrespectively and then connected to said tailpiece so as to be tightenedand loosened by the rocking of said rockable member in respectiveopposite directions (d) a generally U shaped loop attached to saidtailpiece (e) a spring coil formed on each leg of said loop andconnected to said rockable member so as to bias said rockable memberinto an initial position (f) and handle means on said rockable memberoverlying said face of said instrument whereby said rockable member canbe rocked in opposite directions from said initial position respectivelyfor tightening and loosening said strings for tone control.

4. The tone control device defined in claim 3 and said handle meansincluding,

(g) a sleeve threaded on an end of said rockable memher,

('11) means to lock said sleeve to said rockable member in adjustedposition (i) a manipulable arm secured on said sleeve in an initialposition so as to be movable toward and away from said face of saidinstrument for rocking said rockable member (j) and adjustable pivotmeans for said arm to permit the turning of said arm away from saidrockable member.

5. The tone control device defined in claim 3, and

(g) said loop being positioned on top of said tailpiece (h) a clampingelement positioned beneath said tailpiece (i) and means on the ends ofsaid clamping element to engage said loop so as to clamp the loop tosaid tailpiece.

6. In tone control device for a string instrument hav ing a tailpieceextended over the face of the instrument and having strings secured tosaid tailpiece;

(a) a rockable member extended transversely of said strings and spacedfrom said tailpiece (b) said rockable member having passagestherethrough (c) resiliently yieldable means to hold said rockablemember spaced from said tailpiece in an initial positron (d) saidstrings being drawn through said passages and then secured to saidtailpiece so as to be tightened and loosened by respective oppositerocking of said rockable element (6) and manipulating means on saidrockable element for rocking said rockable element at will.

7. in a tone control device for a string instrument having a tailpieceextending over the face of the instrument, and strings secured to saidtailpiece,

(a) a rocking shaft extended transversely above said face spaced fromsaid tailpiece (b) said shaft having spaced passages therethrough forsaid strings (c) said strings being drawn through said respectivepassages and then secured to said tailpiece so as to be tightened andloosened by respective turning of said shaft in opposite directions ([1)a clamping loop afiixed to said tailpiece (e) resilient means to connectsaid clamping loop to said shaft so as to bias said shaft to an initialposition holding said passages at an initial angle relatively to saidtailpiece (f) and manipulable means for turning said shaft from saidinitial position at will for controlling the tension of said strings. 8.In a tone control device for a string instrument having a tailpieceextending over the face of the instrument, and strings secured to saidtailpiece,

(a) a rocking shaft extended transversely above said face spaced fromsaid tailpiece (b) said shaft having spaced passages therethrough forsaid strings (c) said strings being drawn through said respectivepassages and then secured to said tailpiece so as to be tightened andloosened by respective turning of said shaft in opposite directions (d)a spring loop positioned on top of said tailpiece (e) a clamp elementbeneath said tailpiece (f) means on said clamp element to engage saidloop v and afiix it to said tailpiece (g) spring coils formed on eachend of said loop (11) a leg formed on each spring coil and insertedthrough said shaft so as to bias said shaft into an initial position (i)and manipulable means for rocking said shaft in opposite directionsrespectively to tighten and loosen said strings.

9. The tone control device defined in claim 8 and j) and adjustablespacing means between said instrument face and said shaft to inhibitlowering and raising of said shaft relatively to said face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,781,685 White et al Feb. 19, 1957

1. IN TONE CONTROL DEVICE FOR A STRING INSTRUMENT HAVING A TAILPIECEEXTENDED OVER THE FACE OF THE INSTRUMENT AND HAVING STRINGS SECURED TOSAID TAILPIECE; (A) A ROCKABLE MEMBER EXTENDED TRANSVERSELY OF SAIDSTRINGS AND SPACED FROM SAID TAILPIECE (B) SAID ROCKABLE MEMBER HAVINGPASSAGES THERETHROUGH (C) SAID STRINGS BEING DRAWN THROUGH SAID PASSAGESRESPECTIVELY AND THEN CONNECTED TO SAID TAILPIECE SO AS TO BE TIGHTENEDAND LOOSENED BY THE ROCKING OF SAID ROCKABLE MEMBER IN RESPECTIVEOPPOSITE DIRECTIONS (D) A RESILIENTLY YIELDABLE ELEMENT ATTACHED TO SAIDTAILPIECE (E) SPRING MEANS ON SAID YIELDABLE ELEMENT TO CONNECT IT TOSAID ROCKABLE MEMBER SO AS TO BIAS IT INTO AN INITIAL POSITION